When discussing the greatest bands in rock history, few opinions carry more weight than those of the artists themselves. David Gilmour, the legendary guitarist and vocalist of Pink Floyd, has long made it clear where his allegiance lies: The Beatles.
Despite his towering legacy with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has always openly acknowledged the band that inspired him to pick up a guitar. Born in 1946, he experienced Beatlemania like millions of teenagers in the early 1960s, but for him, the influence ran deeper than fandom. It was The Beatles’ music that lit the spark shaping his entire career, from guitar riffs to songwriting.
Over the years, Gilmour has consistently praised the Fab Four. Asked in 2018 whether Pink Floyd deserved the title of the greatest band of all time, he replied with characteristic humility: “I wouldn’t know. I wasn’t in The Beatles.” His admiration wasn’t just talk—he actively paid tribute to their genius. In 2002, he participated in a Beatles tribute show in Sussex, performing heartfelt renditions of Across The Universe and Revolution, turning homage into a deeply personal celebration.
Perhaps his most candid admission came in a 2015 interview with Mojo: “I really wish I had been in The Beatles. They taught me how to play guitar—I learned everything from them. Bass parts, lead, rhythm. Everything. They were incredible.” His connection to the band extended beyond admiration: Gilmour collaborated on Paul McCartney’s solo albums Give My Regards to Broad Street and Flowers in the Dirt, and even shared the stage with Macca at Liverpool’s iconic Cavern Club, stepping into John Lennon’s role to perform I Saw Her Standing There. “I’m still just a kid inside,” Gilmour said. “You’re in Studio Two at Abbey Road. Paul McCartney’s next to you. Your guitar is plugged in. That’s not just another day at work—it’s magic.”
Even decades later, Gilmour’s reverence remains palpable. On a 2006 BBC Radio 2 appearance, he singled out Lennon’s Dylan-influenced classic You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away as one of his all-time favorite Beatles songs. “I was a total Beatles nut,” he admitted. “That song is just one example—I could have picked hundreds. Anything they did was brilliant.”
For David Gilmour, The Beatles weren’t merely idols—they were the blueprint for everything he would go on to achieve. While he carved out his own legendary path with Pink Floyd, part of him will always be that wide-eyed teenager, guitar in hand, inspired by the band that started it all.
